“I don’t like to say goodbye to things” says Rob Fordeyn. In refusal to say things will end, we become ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS. Memory takes center stage, showcasing the effort we put into constructing our stories. This solo performance (a mourning ritual or is it a spun-out celebration?) is a celebration of the “absolute beginner” in all of us — the seekers, the doubters, the wanderers.
In ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, time is a visceral journey. Rob Fordeyn moves through the sounds of Ann Eysermans’ Fuga for four Diesel Locomotives and Harp, Schubert’s A Major Sonata and David Bowie’s Absolute Beginners. The movement will be a decantation of these at first sight incompatible musics, resulting in Fordeyn’s signature dance of grace and despair, decay and grandeur, a dance for the forgotten and the disappeared.
If any questions remain from the following information, please feel free to contact Hannah Aldinger at or 030 27 89 00 35. Please note that details may change by the day of the event. Therefore, if you find out after you have purchased your ticket that the performance is no longer accessible to you, you can contact us for a ticket return at or 030 27 89 00 45 until 5 business days after the event (Monday through Friday between 10am and 6pm).
Duration
- 50 minutes
Language
- Voice recordings are played in English spoken language.
Light
- The lighting situation on stage is rather bright.
- Due to the use of backlighting, there are sometimes moments of high contrast.
- Projections are used that last around 7 minutes. Parts of the performance are shown in the projections and thus repeated and doubled.
Sound
- Music is used. The music can get loud.
Audience area
- Seated grandstand
- 2 beanbag seats bookable according to availability
- 2 wheelchair seats bookable according to availability
Early boarding
If, for artistic reasons, the door to the auditorium does not open until very shortly before the performance begins, there is the option of early boarding.
Tickets
- Reservations can be made via the ticket telephone at 030 283 52 66, Monday to Friday from 4pm-6pm
- Via the online ticket shop
- At the box office
You can also find more information about accessibility here
Rob Fordeyn is a Belgian-Zambian dancer/choreographer based in Berlin. Fordeyn studied at the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp and began his career with Royal Ballet of Flanders. In 2008 he joined Ballet Opéra de Lyon. Since 2009 Rob has worked as a freelance artist with Arco Renz, Marc Van Runxt, Lisbeth Gruwez, Claudia Castelluci, Forsythe Company, Trajal Harrell, Ersan Mondtag, and Benny Claessens. As a choreographer he has collaborated with Darcey Bennet (Tragic by Accident and Drama, Chaos, Confusion and Madness), Tobias Staab (After Work) and Ersan Mondtag (Antikrist). From 2020-2022 Fordeyn was engaged with Constanza Macras/Dorky Park. In 2023 Fordeyn joined Trajal Harrell / Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble for The Romeo, Maggie The Cat and The Köln Concert.
Darcey Bennett is a creative producer and artist based in Berlin. Coming from a background in the visual arts, Bennett has made site specific installations exhibited in Belgium and the Netherlands (i.e. Marres Maastricht, MUHKA Museum for Contemporary Art Antwerp, Sandberg Institute Amsterdam, CinemaZuid/Fotomuseum Antwerp, SOIL collective Brussels). In collaboration with dancer/choreographer Rob Fordeyn he staged Tragic by Accident (2015), which premiered at Monty Kultuurfaktorij Antwerp, followed by Drama, Chaos, Confusion & Madness (2017), which premiered at FrankfurtLab. In 2020 he started his collaboration with choreographer Jeremy Wade. Since early 2023 Bennett takes part as creative producer in CRUSH, an artist-led alliance by Martin Hansen, Kareth Schaffer and Cécile Bally.
CIVIC GRACE is the musical alias of Ashley Wright, Australian producer based in Berlin. Her work is a mix of oneiric sounds, an experimentation of ambient, breakbeat, dub techno and acoustic soundscapes. With her musical background stemming from her career as a professional dancer, she has built herself a sentimental approach as a producer. She works by gathering and assembling sonic fragments of the world to form layered sound tapestries that find a kind of majesty in sharp contrasts of ephemerality and nostalgia. With an ardency for story telling though sound she doesn’t seek for a connection with any particular music style, but encapsulates interpretation. CIVIC GRACE produces for her own choreographic works, commissioned dance pieces, art installations, live events and film. Since 2019 she has released three solo albums.
Concept, Choreography, Performance: Rob Fordeyn
Artistic Collaboration, Production: Darcey Bennett
Sound: Ashley Wright/CIVIC GRACE
Lights: Andreas Harder
Dramaturgical Support: Jette Büchsenschutz
A production by Rob Fordeyn in co-production with Sophiensæle. The 33rd Tanztage Berlin are a production of Sophiensæle. Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the Capital Cultural Fund (HKF). With the kind support of Tanzfabrik Berlin e. V., Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte. Media partners: Berlin Art Link, Missy, Siegessäule and taz.